Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan has a few thoughts about his country’s caste system – it’s something that affects him personally.

“It’s like the biggest elephant in the room, but nobody wants to look at it,” he says.

That’s something Ghaywan is seeking to change with his second feature, Homebound.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and last week was announced as India’s official entrant for the best international feature film category at next year’s Academy Awards, just ahead of its theatrical release at home and in other countries, including Australia.

Loosely based on fact, Homebound is the story of two young men from a village in northern India who share the experience of being pushed to the margins.

Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) is Muslim, while his best friend Cha

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